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Contamination of T cell cultures with monocytes leads to the discovery of the therapeutic purposes of SAP in treatment of myelofibrosis.

Monocytes are central players of the innate immune response following tissue injury. After tissue damage, these cells accumulate rapidly to a high monocyte count to promote inflammation, remove apoptotic cells, and to support cell proliferation. In addition, monocytes can also differentiate into macrophages, dendritic cells, and fibrocytes. The last secrete a combination of chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors that are important for the formation of scar tissue. In some situations, this healing mechanism becomes uncontrollable, resulting in the formation of excessive scar tissue in vital organs. Thus, scientists seek to understand the various processes regulating scarring and healing to develop treatments for fibrotic diseases.